Georgetown: The Health Ministry’s Vector Control Services Department has procured some 60,000 malaria resistant nets for distribution to interior locations.
Director of the department, Dr Reyad Rahaman said of the lot, 45,000 are hammock nets while the remainder are malaria-treated bed nets.
The nets, he said will be distributed in Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine and some areas of Region 10.
“We expect to go to a lot of Amerindian villages, to the mining concession, mining camps, logging camps and where ever else the population is affected to distribute these nets to communities,” the Director stated. Last year, Guyana achieved a 15 per cent reduction in malaria cases.
Thus far in 2014, the Vector Control Services Department has distributed some 7000 nets, and the full 60,000 will be distributed by year-end.
The Health Ministry has also begun indoor residue spray, as it continues to make life difficult for mosquitoes to survive.
Rahaman said even though Guyana has seen a reduction in malaria cases, it needs to keep the fight, and one way it intends to do so is through the creation of health clubs in mosquito-prone communities.
The Vector Control Services Department is also working closely with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association to tackle the malaria problem in mining communities.
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